The Central Electoral Commission (CEC), after reviewing the issue of bringing charges against Narek Karapetyan, gave its consent, lawyer Aram Vardevanyan told reporters near the CEC headquarters.

“The CEC has approved the request to give consent for charges to be brought against Narek Karapetyan. This does not mean that he has been completely deprived of parliamentary immunity; it concerns only the initiation of charges. In order to deprive him of liberty, the CEC would have to give consent again. Narek Karapetyan is already a member of parliament; the only difference is that he has not yet assumed his powers, as each of us has,” the lawyer said.

Aram Vardevanyan also said that Narek Karapetyan’s status as a member of parliament and the issue of assuming his parliamentary powers will be discussed during the CEC’s closed session at 15:30.